He isn't trying to be your friend. That is the first thing you have to understand about Mike Preston. If you grew up in Baltimore or spent any amount of time in the Ravens Flock, you know the Monday morning routine. You grab your coffee, open the Baltimore Sun, and prepare to be absolutely annoyed by a set of letter grades.
The mike preston ravens report card is basically a local institution at this point, but it's the kind of institution people love to picket. It’s gritty. It is often harsh. Honestly, it’s sometimes a little bit unfair depending on who you ask in the locker room.
The Grading Curve Nobody Wants to Be On
Preston doesn't do "participation trophies." If the Ravens win a game 41-24 against the Green Bay Packers—which happened just a few weeks ago in late December 2025—most fans are over the moon. Not Mike. He handed out a B-minus to the defense. Why? Because they let Malik Willis scramble for 79 yards.
To him, a win doesn't mask the flaws. He’s looking at the "how" and the "why" rather than the final score on the scoreboard. He’s looking for the classic Ravens grit. If it’s not there, you’re getting a C. Or worse.
His criteria are famously opaque but predictably brutal. He watches the offensive line for more than just sacks; he wants to see if they are "finishing" blocks. He looks at wide receivers and doesn't just check the box score for yards. He’s looking at the route running, the separation, and whether they’re making the contested catches that actually move the chains.
Why the Report Card Matters (Even if You Hate It)
You might wonder why a single columnist's opinion carries so much weight. It’s because Preston has been doing this since the team arrived in 1996. He’s outlasted coaches. He’s outlasted front-office executives.
He’s had legendary blow-ups with the greats. We’re talking face-to-face arguments with Ray Lewis and Ed Reed. In a 2000 locker room, that was just a Tuesday for him. Most modern reporters want to be "tapped in" or "friendly" with players to get the scoop. Preston? He seems perfectly fine being the "bad guy in a wrestling match," as his friends sometimes describe him.
The mike preston ravens report card serves as a counterweight to the official team media. While the Ravens' own website is (rightfully) going to highlight the positives, Preston is the guy in the back of the room pointing out that the tight end missed a chip block in the second quarter.
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What the 2025-2026 Season Grades Tell Us
Lately, the heat has been on Lamar Jackson. Preston recently caused a massive stir—a "chaos" moment on 105.7 The Fan—by questioning the quarterback’s work ethic and future with the team.
Fans were livid.
But if you look at his actual grades from the 37-20 loss to the Chiefs earlier this season, he wasn't just throwing darts. He broke down the "stagnant" offense and the "lost" look of the secondary. He often points out that "run-first" quarterbacks eventually hit a wall if they can't win from the pocket. Whether you agree with that take or not, it’s the hill he’s chosen to live on for years.
The mike preston ravens report card for the recent loss to the Patriots was another example of his "tough love" style. While others were blaming the weather or specific officiating calls, Preston’s grade sheet focused on the fundamentals.
- Quarterbacks: Did they elevate the players around them?
- Offensive Line: Did they create push or just wall off?
- Coaching: Were the adjustments made at halftime, or did they just keep banging their heads against a wall?
The "Hater" Narrative vs. Reality
Is he a Steelers fan? That’s the common conspiracy theory in Baltimore. It’s a fun rumor, but the reality is more boring: he’s a guy from Essex who grew up on Johnny Unitas and Mike Curtis. He wants a specific brand of smash-mouth football. When the Ravens play "soft," his grades reflect it.
Even Steve Bisciotti, the Ravens' owner, isn't immune. In a press conference just yesterday, January 14, 2026, Bisciotti even joked about Preston's reputation. When Preston asked a question about Mike Tomlin (who just stepped down from the Steelers), the room felt the weight of decades of history. Preston even gave the owner a "report card" for his press conference performance, handing him a D+ for "respect for fan investment."
That takes guts.
How to Read Preston Without Losing Your Mind
If you're going to keep following the mike preston ravens report card, you have to change your perspective. Don’t look at it as an objective truth. It’s an evaluation based on an old-school, high-standard philosophy of what Baltimore football should be.
- Look for the "Why": Don't just see the 'D' and get mad. Read the prose. He usually points out a specific player or a specific scheme failure that others missed.
- Check the Trend: If he gives the offensive line a 'C' three weeks in a row, he’s telegraphing a problem that might sink the team in the playoffs.
- Ignore the "Personal" Stuff: Sometimes he gets into the weeds about player personalities. That's where he loses a lot of people. Stick to the on-field analysis.
The Ravens are heading into a crucial period. With the AFC North race tightening up and a potential Wild Card round against a team like Buffalo, the grades are only going to get more scrutinized.
Moving Forward with the Grades
To get the most out of these reports, compare them against other analysts like Jeff Zrebiec. Zrebiec is the "just the facts" guy. Preston is the "how I feel about it" guy. Somewhere in the middle of those two, you'll usually find the truth about how the Ravens are actually playing.
Check the Sun's digital archives or listen to his Monday morning hits on 105.7 The Fan to see if he's softening his stance on the defense as they head toward the postseason. If Mike Preston gives the defense an 'A', you can bet your house that the Ravens are probably favorites to win the Super Bowl.
Next time you see a grade that makes you want to throw your phone, just remember: it’s just Preston being Preston. He’s been the "villain" of Baltimore sports media for thirty years, and he’s not changing now. If you want a more balanced view of the team’s current standing, you should cross-reference his latest grades with the official NFL Next Gen Stats to see if his "eye test" matches the data.